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Three years ago we sat in northern Kenya in the middle of a wildlife reserve and listened to the howls and roars. We never saw any of the big cats during the day, but the nights were enough to make me feel small.

It was the end of a long day of dry roads and beautiful stories. We sat with a pastor who had been serving the same congregation for more than 30 years. He was still excited by it and we wanted to learn everything we could from him. He develops leaders and he told us there is nothing that kills more of them then their own insecurity. He said he was watched it 1000 times. We have watched it since. And we now too believe it. These are men who do not let people rise up beside them. Women who in the face of another alpha figure out a way to throw her under the bus.

Insecurity is the mark of the narcissist. The Achilles heel of pride. Nobody will attempt to wound you more often than an insecure man. No woman will attempt to reduce you more often then an insecure woman.

It doesn’t take much to impress me really. Bring your poetry and humanity to the office. Bring your brain and faith to the church. Don’t leave any of yourself out. Don’t edit yourself for one of the other. We want all of you. All the time.

Bring your questions and your emotions.

Bring your passion and your abilities.

Bring your heart and your head.

But you cannot bring any of it if you also bring your insecurity. You cannot bring any of your truth if you bring your wounds unhealed. Your wounds will tear open at every snarl and hint of opposition. You will bleed and you will react against your own better judgement. You will make up excuses and you will blame someone else. You will lie.

The beautiful truth is that you do not need to think much of yourself to walk in confidence. You were called and equipped for the space just in front of you. Just to the right. Only a little to the left. There is no one else on the planet that can occupy that space in the way that you can. The beautiful truth is that in humility you can know…this is not about your ability but HIS empowerment. This is not about your skills but because of your SUBMISSION to His calling.